Betsy and Iya

Betsy and Iya Fashion jewelry, all designed and made onsite. Plus clothing, gifts, & home goods.

All beautiful things made by people who care, not products made oceans apart from their designers.

I was digging through photos of custom pieces we made a while ago, which is basically the small business version of find...
05/08/2026

I was digging through photos of custom pieces we made a while ago, which is basically the small business version of finding cash in an old coat pocket.

Except instead of cash, it’s tiny sapphires, heirloom stones, weirdly perfect curves, quiet little details, and the sudden memory of exactly why each piece mattered.

That’s the thing about custom jewelry: every piece holds something specific. A person. A place. A chapter. A joke only two people get. A goodbye. A beginning. A “can we make this from that?”

We can. We did. We love that we get to.

She isn’t exactly low-profile.Bold color, loud in the best way, and pretty incapable of minding her own business. The ne...
04/19/2026

She isn’t exactly low-profile.

Bold color, loud in the best way, and pretty incapable of minding her own business. The necklace, too. Throw her on with the basics or pile on more color and let things get a little out of hand. Subtle was never really part of the plan. 

Come see her in-store.

The diamond industry was built on the idea of perfection. I’m not interested in that.That’s one reason I keep coming bac...
04/17/2026

The diamond industry was built on the idea of perfection. I’m not interested in that.

That’s one reason I keep coming back to salt and pepper diamonds. The industry has considered these stones “imperfect.” They’re full of inclusions, not crystal-clear, not uniform. In other words, they don’t fit the industry definition of flawless.

But that’s exactly what makes them special. To me, these imperfections are what give salt and pepper diamonds their character—each one completely unique, with a depth and texture you just won’t find anywhere else.

And they’re a more eco-conscious choice. They don’t require the same level of intensive sorting and mining to find “perfect” stones. They’re more abundant and make use of diamonds that might otherwise be discarded, which helps reduce waste and lessens the demand for more destructive mining practices.

Not flawless. More interesting. No perfection required.

They met for coffee on a Sunday morning after both swiping right on .It was meant to be casual.Three hours later, neithe...
04/16/2026

They met for coffee on a Sunday morning after both swiping right on .

It was meant to be casual.

Three hours later, neither of them was in a hurry to leave.

They made plans for a game the next weekend—but only made it two days before seeing each other again.

and ’s story starts in SE Portland and stretches all the way to a sun-soaked proposal on a cliff in Hawaii, and into a set of rings they customized together.

It’s about knowing sooner than you expected.
About building something that actually feels like you.
And about the kind of everyday life that ends up being the best part.

Jenny and Elissa’s story is a reminder that the big moments matter—but it’s everything in between that really holds it together.

And we’re so honored they chose to invite us into that everything in between.

📸:

Like if a doodle got its life together.However you wear them, vertical or horizontal, these Tiny Wave climbers add a sub...
04/14/2026

Like if a doodle got its life together.

However you wear them, vertical or horizontal, these Tiny Wave climbers add a subtle, sculptural touch to your ear stack.

Available in silver and 14k gold fill.

The Hell Yes medallions like to play nicely with others. This is how we’ve seen y’all stacking and styling them!
04/08/2026

The Hell Yes medallions like to play nicely with others. This is how we’ve seen y’all stacking and styling them!

These sterling silver cuffs feature traditional stamping and clean lines, each handcrafted by Navajo and Zuni artisans w...
03/24/2026

These sterling silver cuffs feature traditional stamping and clean lines, each handcrafted by Navajo and Zuni artisans with distinct patterns that honor generations of metalwork.

Every February, Suzy and I walk the outdoor aisles of the African Art Village show in Tucson — reconnecting with makers ...
03/09/2026

Every February, Suzy and I walk the outdoor aisles of the African Art Village show in Tucson — reconnecting with makers we love and searching for what’s new for our Bazaar.

Seven or eight years ago, we followed the music through the crowded market. It led us to Birama Berthe — but please, call him Baba.

His booth stopped us. Brass catching the sun. Jewelry in careful rows. Baba greeting everyone with his big, joyous “Aaa! Aaa!” like you’re already an old friend.

Baba is from Mali, West Africa. He began making jewelry in 1999 as an apprentice and later founded Muso Masi-ri, traveling between Mali and the U.S. several times a year to share his handmade work.

“Muso Masi-ri” means the decoration of women in Bambara. Through his work, Baba shares the spirit, creativity, and pride of Malian women.

I wear one of his bendable brass cuffs almost every day. It’s the kind of piece that quietly becomes part of you — and draws regular compliments.

Explore Baba’s beautiful things this Friday and Saturday (March 13–14) at the Betsy & Iya Bazaar, see you then!

However you stack it, a beaded necklace just makes it better — an easy layer, a little texture, a guaranteed pop of joy.
03/04/2026

However you stack it, a beaded necklace just makes it better — an easy layer, a little texture, a guaranteed pop of joy.

A small shift, a big difference.Sarah came in looking for rings to mark ten years of marriage. She was ready to step up ...
01/26/2026

A small shift, a big difference.

Sarah came in looking for rings to mark ten years of marriage. She was ready to step up from the sterling silver bands she and her partner chose back then, and was drawn to the bold, contrasting shapes of the Figura.

The Nitor felt like the right companion, but she wanted the diamond a little bigger, to better match the scale of the design. We adjusted the Figura slightly, making the center squares a touch smaller to accommodate the stone so the two rings nestled perfectly together. This is what customizing our ready-to-wear Fiina pieces looks like.

Address

1777 Northwest 24th Avenue
Portland, OR
97210

Opening Hours

Monday 11am - 6pm
Tuesday 11am - 6pm
Wednesday 11am - 6pm
Thursday 11am - 6pm
Friday 11am - 6pm
Saturday 11am - 6pm
Sunday 11am - 6pm

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